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Monday, December 02, 2013

Welcome back, Lynette. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.

I don’t purposely write some of myself into my characters,
but like for many writers, I know that happens inadvertently. I think writers
always touch on some aspects of their own experiences when crafting characters.
For me, usually it’s emotional journey—whether that’s joy, betrayal, outrage,
finding the need to forgive, or a lesson I’ve learned. I love cooking and
trying recipes, and I’ve had several characters who are chefs, either running
their own restaurant, or a bakery, and even a White House chef.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

I told a friend the other night about a costume party back
in college. I couldn’t figure out what to wear, so I made a toga of sorts out
of my dorm room curtains, and I wore that to the party. There's a picture of
that night around, somewhere...

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

I distinctly remember that discovery in elementary school,
either fourth or fifth grade. A teacher gave us a list of 25 words and said,
“Now write a story using all of those words at least once.” For me it happened
naturally. My story was a Thanksgiving story involving Pilgrims and Indians. I
can still remember the thrill of reading it aloud in class, and the whole room
being silent as I read what I’d just made up. But it wasn't until much, much
later I seriously considered writing with the goal of publication.

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I enjoy reading anything from sweet romance (it has to be a
unique enough hook to grab me as a
reader) to gritty suspense/thrillers. Southern fiction, cozy mystery, you name
it.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

I force myself to slow down and rest. I usually
underestimate the time I need to get certain things done—either that, or I’m
overly ambitious. Recently because of my husband’s health issues, we’ve had to
slow down some, but that's okay. We don’t have to do everything.

How do you choose
your characters’ names?

When I sit down and think of a character, sometimes I wait
until they introduce themselves to
me. It depends on their personality, or ethnic background. I also try to choose
names that are easy to read—no guessing on the pronunciation—especially if they’re
not common names.

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Choosing to become a mother to my husband’s two children.
They were three and five years old when I married their father, and I don’t
regret becoming an instant mother one bit. The two of them are grown now, and
my husband and I did the best we could to raise them as the Lord would have us
raise them.

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

I used to say I’d be a cat, because the cats in our
household have a really nice, cushy life. But part of me would be an eagle—I’d
love to feel what it’s like to fly and be able to see details from great
distances.

What is your favorite
food?

I have to pick one? I’d have to say chocolate. Period.

A woman after my own
heart. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and
how did you overcome it?

Learning when to move on from a book. I spent several years
kicking around a proposal that never really came together. It’s a
suspense/thriller, and I still love the idea. But it never felt right. I’m not
sure if it’s the characters, plot, or what. I wasted a lot of time not letting
myself get over that book and moving on to something else. Finally, I had to
just put it to the side and let it go.

Tell us about the
featured book.

Tempest's Course is part of the Quilts of Love series from
Abingdon Press. It's the story of a textile conservator who’s treading water
financially, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, and one eventful summer
she spends in New Bedford, Mass. She lives and works in a whaling
captain’s mansion as she works to restore a 150-year-old Mariner’s Compass
quilt. Her life really gets interesting when she meets the groundskeeper at the
mansion and also discovers the long-hidden journal of the woman who originally
made the quilt.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Prologue

April 1853

New Bedford,
Massachusetts

They say a madwoman cannot make sense of the world around
her, let alone write about it, but I can. My empty arms are full, but my heart
tells me that it will never be full again. The one light of my life is gone
from me, and I have no embers from which to coax a new spark.

My atonement is futile. I have no other choice other than
the one before me. If Almighty God is listening from Heaven, surely He will
accept this sacrifice. Perhaps the generations to follow will as well.

Chapter 1

Present Day

Kelly Frost tried not to shiver as she stood on the sidewalk
in front of Gray House, but she did anyway. The breeze drifting from New Bedford’s waterfront
had some bite in it, even for May. Kelly squinted against the sun’s glare
reflecting off a car door, now slammed shut.

An efficient-looking woman made her way with precise steps
to the gate that protected the front lawn of Gray House from nosy passersby and
visitors. “Sorry I’m late. I would have told you to meet me at the real estate
office, but the house is closer.” She unlocked the gate and swung it open. The
ironwork complained at the disturbance.

“Not a problem,” Kelly said as she followed the woman—Mrs.
Acres, was it?—up the cobbled sidewalk, then the wooden steps.

“I’ve been instructed to open the house for you while you
complete your assessment of the piece, then lock up when you’re ready to go.”
Mrs. Acres now worked the front door lock with an ancient key. “How long do you
think you’ll need?”

“An hour, most likely.” She’d made assessments of antique
and ancient textiles before, and this current request should be little
different than other times in the past.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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23 comments:

"Tempest's Course" sounds like a good book to read on a cozy winter day. I can't wait to read this one. I enjoyed the interview with Lynette. We have something in common. Our favorite food is chocolate. Lynette willing to marry into an already made family would have been difficult in my opinion but it sounds like you made it possible and yours is a success story. Bless you!

Thank you for sharing this great interview. I enjoyed learning about Lynette and look forward to reading TEMPEST'S COURSE! I love the Quilts of Love series and know this will be another wonderful story!

Hi, ladies! Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I think chocolate is one food I'd be pretty unhappy about never having again. Sometimes it's nice to have a chocolate-chocolate cupcake and a cup of coffee. Oh, yum!

What I've enjoyed about the Quilts of Love series is seeing how different all of the stories are from each other. I think there's something for everyone.

We are under a winter storm warning with possibility of 10 inches of snow here in MN over the next few days and now more time to snuggle in a blanket with a good book! Looking forward to reading some new books, including Tempest's Course with a big mug of hot cocoa in front of the fireplace.

It is nice to meet Lynette today and read about the book she has written. thanks for sharing these comments.I too married a man with children but his and mine were grown, this is a bit harder as his did not want a stepMom and life was not easy at first. we have been together more then 25 yrs now and I think they have accepted me reluctantly..I love the grandchilren as mine and they are more accepting.would like to read your book.

Yes, I try not to get too "out there" with characters' names. I do like unusual names, but if I do choose one for a character, I try to make it easy on the eyes--easy to read/pronounce in my head. But these two? Simply Tom and Kelly.

Having a blended family does bring its challenges, but I'm thankful for these kids calling me mom, as my husband and I didn't have children together. Somehow, we ended up with lots of cats. And now a big dog! :) Thanks again for stopping by

All the Quilts of Love have been wonderful. "Tempest's Course" sounds fantastic. Looking forward to reading it. Enjoyed the great interview. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway and please enter my name.

What an intriguing story! I have really enjoyed The Quilts of Love books and this one looks great to. I love the story line , the setting and the introduction to the characters.thank you from Ohiomcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com

It's so much fun to see "Quilts of Love" series fans here. If you're on Facebook, everyone is invited to pop on over to our Christmas Bee Tuesday evening. There will be giveaways, and authors Vannetta Chapman and Lisa Carter are attending (me too). Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/612399315490102/?source=1